To Austin Dobson by William Watson

Yes! urban is your Muse, and owns
An empire based on London stones;
Yet flow’rs, as mountain violets sweet,
Spring from the pavement ‘neath her feet.

Of wilder birth this Muse of mine,
Hill-cradled, and baptized with brine;
And ’tis for her a sweet despair
To watch that courtly step and air!

Yet surely she, without reproof,
Greeting may send from realms aloof,
And even claim a tie in blood,
And dare to deem it sisterhood.

For well we know, those Maidens be
All daughters of Mnemosyne;
And ‘neath the unifying sun,
Many the songs–but Song is one.